Trial date set for man accused of stabbing wife to death

Jean-Pierre Trias, 44, faces one count of open murder for allegedly killing 53-year-old Katherine Porter. Porter died of multiple stab wounds and was found bloodied and bruised in a bathroom at the couple’s home in the 4700 block of Hickory Pointe Boulevard on Jan. 11.

Records show Trias will return to court for a final pretrial hearing at 1:30 p.m., June 18, when all motions in the case must be filed. His trial is scheduled to being at 8 a.m. July 15, according to court records.

The dates were set at a pretrial hearing in front of Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Donald Shelton on May 7.

It’s alleged that Trias stabbed Porter multiple times the night before Porter’s body was discovered by Pittsfield Township police officers sent to the home to check on Trias. Testimony at a preliminary exam showed Trias called his brother earlier in the day and said he blacked out the previous night, woke up with injuries to his face and he didn’t know if he hurt anyone.

Trias and Porter had been married since August 1995.

Trias filed for divorce in November 2010, but the couple reconciled. No evidence presented at this point has shown a history of domestic violence in the couple’s relationship.

Trias is a former employee of Eastern Michigan Univeristy, where he worked from September 2003 until Dec. 31, 2012, in the mathematics department. University officials said he worked off and on at the university and held a part-time position as a coordinator of math tutoring and testing services. He also worked as a graduate assistant.

Trias is being held in the Washtenaw County Jail without bond as the case proceeds. If convicted, he faces a maximum of life in prison.

Comments

BhavanaJagat

Wed, May 15, 2013 : 5:26 p.m.

Whole Dude - Whole Prayer: Myself, my wife, and son constantly remember Mr. J P in our prayers. We thank Mr. JP for his single act of kindness when he had visited hospital to give encouragement to my son while was recovering from back surgery. A surgeon's knife inflicts an injury that causes pain and yet it helps in recovery. If Mr. JP had used a knife to inflict an injury, we need the healing power of the Lord to lift the pain it causes in the victim and in the attacker.